Info about Tokyo Necro:

Official game description:
Tokyo has become a snow-covered wasteland where the dead walk among the living. But in this frozen hellscape people have survived, protected by the guns and cybernetics enhancements of the Living Dead Stalkers.  
Developed by Nitro Origin, creators of Song of Saya and Full Metal Daemon Muramasa, Tokyo NECRO dives into the cyberpunk genre and sets a new standard for action visual novels – with fully animated fight scenes and an interactive display where you can see every action your character takes through their own eyes!
Story
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In the future, the world has been engulfed in the bitter cold of an ice age. And yet, Tokyo is surviving with its use of geothermal heat pipes to keep the city habitable. Within this frozen city, So’un and Ethica make their living working for the Karasuzumi Living Dead Stalker Office; contract killers who spend their working days executing necromancers and their undead minions. On one such mission, they discover a mysterious girl who had been kidnapped by a necromancer for reasons unknown.  
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Release date: Mar 13, 2023

Categories: Visual Novel, Action Visual Novel, Cyberpunk, Multiple Routes, Branching Narrative, 3D Cutscenes, Dual Protagonists

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 70; verdict: Broken - High Friction; summary: Audit of the Steam Deck experience for Tokyo Necro. Reviews show the game can run on Steam Deck after manual tweaking, but it is not seamless. Users must follow external guides or apply patch workarounds, and one user cannot play on Deck without a direct patch method. Additionally, the Chinese version suffers from frequent crashes, a stability issue that can affect Deck play. These factors place the experience in the Broken range despite some reports of perfect performance after tweaks.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The positive technical-value comment and the Chinese review's praise for JAST's low-price-region pricing suggest the game is not seen as a premium full-price release. However, the strongest value complaint says players get only half a VN for the full price, which pulls the fair range down. With another review calling the value only moderate, the community fair base price clusters in the low-to-mid $20s, so I estimate $20-$30.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 45.0h
  - Story completion: 30.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The review table states 30-60 hours to complete all routes and the True Ending, so gameCompletion is estimated around the midpoint at 45 hours. Another reviewer reports spending 30 hours to wrap up the true route ending, and a translated review says the game takes less than 30 hours, supporting storyCompletion around 30 hours. No review gives a typical session length; the 10-hour mention is a progress point, not a play session. The true route is unlocked after completing four routes, but no duration is given for that endgame portion, so endgame is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow, terminology-heavy first route, but players report that it becomes more interesting after starting the second route or getting past the first half of Mitsumi's route.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Starting the second route
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Slow start in the first route; Heavy sci-fi terminology early on; Slow UI and startup; Tedious launch animation before the main menu; Uneven pacing between routes; New game option easily mistaken for continue in the first few hours
  - Unlock drivers: Starting the second route; Getting past the first half of Mitsumi's route
  - Conditions: First route is slower; later routes are reportedly better; Enjoyment depends on reaching the second route; Enjoyment depends on passing the first half of Mitsumi's route; Tolerance for early sci-fi terminology; Patience with slow UI and startup; Preference for even pacing across routes; Reaction to romance focus in Kiriri route; Tolerance for occasionally confusing writing
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nitro+ Hardcore Sci-Fi Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Dark, philosophical sci-fi and the distinctive Nitro+ transgressive style.
    - Playstyle: Reads all routes for hardcore themes and tolerates gore, psychological twists, and messy plotlines.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: hardcore sci-fi lover
    - Reference games: Saya no Uta; Full Metal Daemon Muramasa
  - Heroine Route Completionist (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing all heroine routes and arranging them for the best true-ending and romantic payoff.
    - Playstyle: Plans route orders, replays branches, compares heroine screen time, and evaluates romantic development and music.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Mitsumi fan
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Uncensored Gore Content Purist (buy)
    - Motivation: Playing the full uncensored game with all gore, sex, and lore content preserved.
    - Playstyle: Installs patches, compares Steam and unrated versions, and warns others about missing content.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - 3D Action Spectacle Appreciator (buy)
    - Motivation: High-budget action spectacle and novel 2D/3D visual novel presentation.
    - Playstyle: Plays for cinematic fight scenes, 3D cutscenes, UI design, and meta presentation tricks.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Honkai Impact 3rd


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging Narrative Praised (weight 0.55): Players highly praise the game's story, describing it as engaging, complex, and well-written with great characters. The narrative leaves a lasting impression and is a major highlight.
- Grand and Unique Worldbuilding (weight 0.53): The worldbuilding is described as grand, imaginative, and well-developed, with a vast and dark setting. The cyberpunk world setting is specifically highlighted as a strong point.
- 3D Cutscenes Enhance Presentation (weight 0.45): The incorporation of 3D movies, cinematography, and cut scenes is praised for enhancing story presentation. Gorgeous action sequences using 3D cutscenes are a highlight.
- Stylish and Immersive UI (weight 0.4): The user interface is frequently commended for its impressive design, unique style, and immersive presentation. The UI and text presentation are considered excellent and add to the overall experience.
- Excellent Music and BGM (weight 0.32): The background music (BGM) and soundtrack are frequently described as perfect, amazing, and perfectly used. The OP and ED are also well-received.
- Top-Tier Art and CG (weight 0.3): The art quality, including CG and character sprites, is consistently praised as top-notch and high-quality. The visual presentation is considered perfect and adds significantly to the game's appeal.
- Dual Protagonists Well-Executed (weight 0.25): The dual-protagonist system is enjoyable and well-executed, providing multidimensional insights and well-written supporting characters. Voice acting for the protagonists is also praised.
- Memorable and Unique Characters (weight 0.25): Characters are described as unique, impressive, vivid, and memorable, with a variety of personalities. This adds depth to the story and enhances player engagement.
- Satisfying Audiovisual Presentation (weight 0.2): The audiovisual presentation is satisfying and thrilling, with excellent production values that make it feel like watching a movie. This immersive quality is highly appreciated.
- Thrilling Action and Combat (weight 0.2): Combat scenes are described as excellent, cool, and well-animated, with lots of action. The battle scenes are implemented well and add excitement.
- Solid Visual Novel Experience (weight 0.16): Overall, the game is considered a solid, good, and fantastic visual novel when experienced in its entirety. It provides a satisfying experience for fans of the genre.
- Excellent Voice Acting and Illustrations (weight 0.12): The character voice acting and illustrations are praised as excellent, contributing to the overall high production quality. Voice acting enhances character immersion.
- Exceptional Localization Quality (weight 0.12): The localization is exceptional and high quality, ensuring that the story and dialogue are well-translated and accessible to a wider audience. This is a notable strong point.
- True Ending Requires All Routes (weight 0.11): Unlocking the final True Ending requires viewing all four character routes, which some players may find demanding. This adds replay value but also requires commitment.

Common complaints:
- Pacing and Narrative Structure Issues (weight 0.93): The story suffers from poor pacing, with slow beginnings, rushed developments, and excessive dragging in routes. The dual-perspective narration and frequent perspective switches are confusing and disrupt immersion.
- Story and Writing Criticized (weight 0.89): Many reviewers find the story mediocre, with poor characterization, clichéd plots, and underdeveloped worldbuilding. The script quality is often described as dull, terse, or second-rate, failing to convey grand themes.
- Character Development Lacking (weight 0.87): Characters are poorly fleshed out, with inconsistent motivations, thin characterization, and abrupt romance developments. Some routes, such as Iriya's and Consu's, have logic problems and insufficient buildup.
- Steam Version Heavily Censored (weight 0.68): The Steam version removes substantial fight scenes, gore, and important lore, requiring a patch to restore full content. Some users report that without the patch, less than 10% of the original content is available, and the story feels disjointed with missing exposition.
- 3D Visuals and Animation Criticized (weight 0.59): The 3D models and animations are rough, blurry, and awkward, with some effects causing discomfort. Battles rely too heavily on 3D visuals instead of good writing.
- UI and Save System Problems (weight 0.52): The save/load interface is confusing, poorly designed, and slow to load. The flashy UI and non-intuitive menu text make it hard to find basic functions, causing frustration.
- Adult Content Quality and Quantity (weight 0.41): H-scenes are criticized as poor, repetitive, and forced, with some feeling unnecessary and ruining the story's potential. There is also a lack of dynamic H-scenes and limited variations.
- Route-Specific Problems (weight 0.27): Certain routes, such as Mitsumi's, Mimei's, and Iriya's, have specific issues like blandness, pacing problems, and illogical developments. Some routes feel unnecessary or poorly executed.
- True Ending Forced Happy Ending (weight 0.27): The True Ending is seen as a forced happy ending that invalidates previous routes and feels like a joke. It lacks impact and hurts fans of certain characters.
- LGBT Content and Sexual Openness (weight 0.26): The inclusion of LGBT elements, including male homosexuality and open sexual relationships, may be a turn-off for some players. It is sometimes seen as unexpected or unnecessary.
- Technical and Performance Issues (weight 0.25): Players encounter crashes, save incompatibility after patching, achievements not unlocking, and long loading times. The game is often unplayable without the official patch.
- Excessive Terminology and Confusing Setting (weight 0.24): Heavy use of unique terminology and sci-fi jargon can be overwhelming and confusing. The setting seems grand but is self-contradictory and poorly explained.
- Gore and Disturbing Content (weight 0.23): The game contains heavy gore, grotesque scenes, and cruel moments that may be unacceptable to some players. Some CGs and story events are particularly intense.
- Unnecessary Elements and Distasteful Content (weight 0.2): The game includes pointless meme references, excessive anime moments, and distasteful scenes that detract from the experience. Some content feels like bad taste from start to finish.
- Dialogue Attribution and Portraits (weight 0.15): Some dialogues lack character portraits and name tags, making it hard to tell who is speaking. This issue is exacerbated when the protagonist is silent.
- Story Too Short and Unsatisfying (weight 0.15): The story feels too short and ends weakly, leaving players unsatisfied. Some routes are rushed and lack resolution.
- Minor Flaws and Typos (weight 0.14): There are occasional typos and minor issues with details in the story. Some parts have flaws that are masked by the game's strengths.
- Limited Choices and Route Structure (weight 0.1): The game has only two choices leading to 4+1 route combinations, and choices reveal too much information, reducing motivation to replay. The route structure feels restrictive.
- Gallery and Extras Limitations (weight 0.09): The CG gallery is limited and does not show ending CGs or important events. There are no achievements or trading cards, and the gallery lacks dynamic H-scenes.

Gameplay feedback:
- Visual novel with multiple routes (weight 0.97): The game is a visual novel structured around multiple character routes, with some routes leading to different endings. This core structure is frequently mentioned across several clusters.
- Four routes plus true ending (weight 0.57): Players must complete all four character routes to unlock a hidden True End route. This gating mechanic is consistently noted and adds replay value.
- Dual protagonist system (weight 0.56): The story is told from the perspectives of two protagonists, often switching between them. This narrative device is highlighted in multiple clusters.
- 3D animated battle scenes (weight 0.55): Combat and action sequences are presented using 3D animation, including full-screen CG cutscenes. This visual style is a distinctive feature.
- Choices determine route branching (weight 0.32): Two key choice points, each with two options, determine which of the four routes the player enters. This simple branching system is noted for its clarity.
- Sci-fi cyberpunk setting (weight 0.28): The game features a cyberpunk sci-fi world view that is detailed and interesting. The setting is often praised for its depth.
- Route order and names (weight 0.26): Specific route order such as Mitsumi, Con Su, Kiriri, Iria, and True is mentioned, indicating a recommended or canonical sequence. Some routes have distinct names.
- First-person combat perspective (weight 0.17): During battles, the game switches between first-person and third-person perspectives, with shooting segments often in first-person. This adds immersion to combat.
- Patch adds adult content (weight 0.11): A patch introduces sexual content and additional bloody CGs, as well as many H scenes. This expands the game's mature themes.
- Romance and story focus (weight 0.11): The game includes a romance line alongside its main story, appealing to players interested in emotional narratives. This is a secondary but notable aspect.

Performance notes:
- Post-Patch Error Reports (weight 0.07): Players report that the game throws errors after patches are applied, indicating update-related stability problems. The issue appears in isolated feedback but may affect players immediately after each update.
- Slow Initial Loading (weight 0.07): Booting up the game takes a long time, delaying access to gameplay. This slow startup hurts first impressions and adds friction every session.
- Slow Save And Load (weight 0.07): Saving and loading progress is notably slow, interrupting gameplay flow. Frequent saving or loading makes these delays more noticeable and frustrating.

Recommendations:
- Essential patches and DLC (weight 0.48): Many reviewers emphasize that the 18+ patch from JAST or the official website is essential to unlock extra content, uncensor fight scenes, and experience the full game. They warn against playing the Steam version alone, as it intentionally cuts content.
- Recommended for Nitroplus fans (weight 0.48): Multiple reviewers recommend the game specifically for fans of Nitroplus and its style, noting it as one of their best works. Some suggest playing other Nitroplus games first, but overall it is a must-play for fans.
- Positive general recommendations (weight 0.48): Many reviewers give general praise, calling it a great game, highly recommended, and worth buying. It is described as creative, performant, and worth the price.
- Mixed and negative reviews (weight 0.3): A few reviewers express regret or middling opinions, calling it overhyped or not worth the time. Some suggest avoiding the game or waiting for a sale.
- Recommended route order (weight 0.3): Several reviewers strongly recommend playing the routes in a specific order, typically Mitsumi, then Con Su, then Kiriri, and finally Iria for the true ending. Leaving Iria's route last is advised to avoid frustration and spoiling the plot twist.
- Warnings for sensitive content (weight 0.29): Reviewers caution that the game contains heavy, grotesque, or LGBTQ+ content that may not suit all players. It is not recommended for those with low tolerance for such themes or for staunch fans of pure love.
- Strong visual novel recommendation (weight 0.26): Many reviewers highly recommend the game as a visual novel, praising its story and appeal for genre fans. It is considered a must-play for those who enjoy visual novels.
- Cautions for casual and new players (weight 0.24): Some reviewers advise caution for casual players or beginners, noting the game may not be for everyone. It is recommended only for those who can tolerate flaws or persevere through a slow start.
- Route length and replay value (weight 0.23): Opinions are divided on the multiple routes: some say playing multiple routes is essential to fully appreciate the story, while others feel Mitsumi's route alone is sufficient and other endings are not worth unlocking.
- Appeal to cyberpunk and sci-fi fans (weight 0.21): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy doomsday worldviews, cyberpunk, or sci-fi action visual novels. Its setting and genre make it a standout for fans of these styles.
- Good for 3D fight and action fans (weight 0.15): The game is recommended for those who enjoy fighting-style gameplay and 3D fight scenes in a visual novel format. It offers action-packed moments alongside emotional ones.
- Niche appeal and unique elements (weight 0.14): The game is recommended for fans of its specific niche, such as those who appreciate unique characters and worldbuilding. It may also appeal to those interested in discovering Ethica.
- Support JAST and buy directly (weight 0.12): Several reviewers suggest supporting JAST directly by purchasing from their website rather than Steam. This ensures access to the full uncensored version and necessary patches.
- Holds up well today (weight 0.1): Despite being an older game, it still holds up well and is worth trying even today according to some reviewers.
- Play with headphones (weight 0.05): One reviewer strongly recommends playing with headphones to enhance the audio experience.
- Not for porn-focused players (weight 0.05): One reviewer notes that the game is not suitable for those seeking porn, nor for those purely seeking a story game, indicating a specific mismatch for certain expectations.
- Alternative game suggestion (weight 0.05): A reviewer suggests that they should have purchased Dramatical Murder instead, implying a preference for another title.
- Unqualified galgame (weight 0.05): One reviewer simply describes it as an unqualified galgame, without further elaboration.
- Hand-in-pants tribe appeal (weight 0.05): A reviewer humorously suggests that members of the 'hand-in-pants tribe' might enjoy this game, implying a certain type of player may appreciate it.

Other player notes:
- Official Patch from JAST (weight 0.44): An official patch to restore cut content is available on JAST's website. Players need to download it to experience the full story, including additional scenes.
- Developed by Nitroplus (weight 0.26): The game is developed by Nitroplus (also known as Nitro Origin) and published by JAST. It is a work by the studio Nitro+ (N+).
- Compared to Muramasa (weight 0.24): Reviewers compare this game unfavorably to Muramasa, stating it is not as good and scores lower in personal ratings. It is also compared in terms of excitement level.
- 15th Anniversary Work (weight 0.24): This game is a 15th-anniversary commemoration work for Nitroplus. It celebrates the company's anniversary.
- Playtime 30-60 Hours (weight 0.24): The game offers about 30 to 60 hours of playtime, with some reporting over 30 hours and others around 50-60 hours. One review mentions under 30 hours.
- Released in 2016 (weight 0.21): The game was originally released in early 2016, specifically on January 29, 2016.
- Port of Classic Title (weight 0.16): The game is a port of a classic title with a large-scale world setting. It brings the original experience to new platforms.
- Unique and Innovative Work (weight 0.12): The game is considered one of the few novel and unique works in the industry, breaking norms with bold innovation.
- Compared to Nitroplus Titles (weight 0.12): Reviewers compare this game to other Nitro+ titles such as Saya no Uta and Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi (Totono), as well as Muramasa.
- Visual Novel (ADV) (weight 0.11): The game is a visual novel (ADV) genre title. It is categorized as a visual novel.
- Mobile Game and Adaptations (weight 0.1): The game has a mobile game that was shut down in 2022, along with manga and novel adaptations.
- Chinese Localization Available (weight 0.1): The game has an official Chinese version published by JAST. It has received a Chinese localization.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.19): The game's story was criticized for being clichéd, poorly written, and failing to utilize its vast worldbuilding. Key issues included underdeveloped characters, forced romantic developments, and a true ending that felt rushed and invalidated character arcs. The Steam release's censorship and missing content further contributed to the disappointment.
- Frustration (weight 0.1): Players were frustrated by technical problems such as game errors after patching, frequent crashes, and a requirement for patches to make the game playable. Confusing perspective shifts between dual protagonists, poor writing, and missing content in the Steam version also caused significant frustration.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Admiration stemmed from the game's complex story, impressive characters, and high-quality production values. The flashy UI, 3D battle scenes, excellent soundtrack, and standout routes like Kiri and Iria were particularly praised.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction was driven by the game's unique experience, high production value, and top-tier narrative with multi-playthrough payoff. Excellent voice acting, strong characterization, and the free full version patch provided by the developer also contributed to players' satisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Enjoyment came from the game's great style, apocalyptic cyberpunk vibe, and engaging story with likable characters. The innovative 3D visuals, interesting faction conflicts, and overall presentation made it a fun read/watch experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement was generated by the explosive presentation and plot, particularly the cool animated fights and novel use of 3D battle animations in a visual novel. The incredible ED music, high-quality battle scenes, and sci-fi UI also thrilled players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation focused on the grand worldbuilding, strong presentation, and refreshing system design. The seamless combination of action and slice of life, high-quality CG art, and professional voice acting were also highly valued.
- Immersion (weight 0.03): Immersion was achieved through captivating battle CG, excellent presentation, and an interface that changes as endings are completed. The exquisite art and music, along with voice acting that enhances atmosphere, deepened players' engagement.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom resulted from too many battle scenes with poor pacing, and bland routes like Mitsumi and Con Su that lacked something. The first half of the game was also considered a bore by some players.
- Regret (weight 0.02): Regret was caused by spending money on a game that later errored after patches, and by getting the game but not enjoying it.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise was triggered by unexpected content involving male homosexuality, good foreshadowing recovery with a big twist, and an unexpected plot point about gender roles. The costly-looking 3D combat and animation also surprised players.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): Amazement was inspired by cinematic fights and soundtrack, as well as the cinematic presentation and 3D battle scenes. The amazing production value and unique 3D animation left players in awe.
- Impressed (weight 0.02): Players were impressed by the excellent UI, 3D battle system, and grand worldview. The star-studded production team also made a strong impression.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy was derived from character interactions and growth arcs, and from completing the game and feeling satisfied despite painful moments.
- Discomfort (weight 0.02): Discomfort arose from white screen flashes instead of muzzle flashes in some action scenes, and from distasteful content including an incest relationship.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion was caused by a grand but confusing setting, switching PoVs between two MCs, and unclear UI names that made it hard to tell who was speaking. The removal of many scenes in the Steam release also puzzled players.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger was fueled by unnecessary sex scenes and the character Ethica ruining the story, as well as the treatment of Mitsumi in the story and ending.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance stemmed from long loading and save/load times, and a gimmicky launcher with an unintuitive menu.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement was achieved through an engaging narrative and action-packed story, with players feeling moved along with the scenes and following the characters and events.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness was experienced due to suffering a lot in Kiriri's route, and Iriya's absence and the tragic nature of her route.}